Silent Hill 2 (2001)

Horror isn't usually the genre you associate with great stories. By now, movie-goers will be used to the same tired clichés and plot mechanics. Video games, however, are different, and Silent Hill 2 proved that very early on. This game isn't focused on gore or unnecessary jump scares. Silent Hill presents a town where atmosphere and mental strain is as important as the physical threats. The environment draws on the fears of its visitors, creating the illusions that terrify them most. For James Sunderland, the fear revolves around his dead wife, who he's searching for desperately in the fog-ridden streets. The way the story unfolds, however, is far more unique. Silent Hill 2 introduces elements slowly, gradually building the tension as you discover more about this terrifying place. Its plot is less of a straight line and more of a journey of discovery, gradually lifting the cover on deeper questions about guilt and morality. Even with this, Konami manages to make the story evolve with the player. How you play will shape the ending of the tale, and for once each is just as powerful.